GROOM CHALLENGE

10/27/2026 11:06:52 AM

The PERLAGE CAVALIADA Groom Challenge is a new competition designed to recognize and honor grooms—the individuals who, day in and day out, ensure the comfort and well-being of the horses and prepare them to the highest standard for competition. Their professional, daily work behind the scenes plays a crucial role in achieving competitive success. At each stop of the PERLAGE CAVALIADA Tour, the very best groom is selected—a true standout in the equestrian world!

The PERLAGE CAVALIADA Groom Challenge

A competition held across the four stops of the PERLAGE CAVALIADA Tour: Warsaw, Poznań, Łódź, and Kraków.

Its purpose is to recognize grooms – the individuals responsible every day for the care, comfort, and safety of horses, as well as preparing them for equestrian competitions.

Grooms are often the driving force behind a rider's success, even though their hard work frequently remains unseen by the public.

The competition is designed to combine an assessment of professional skill and daily work with creative tasks and the active involvement of the audience.

Fill out the form to register your participation

FILL OUT THE FORM

The deadline for registration is Wednesday, November 11, at 11:59 PM

How are participants selected?

1. Once the submission period has ended, the organizer's committee will select the 10 most compelling entries for each location.

2. Selection criteria include originality, authenticity, level of engagement, and the way in which the work is presented.

3. Those selected will receive a notification confirming their qualification, along with the contest rules
and a schedule.

TASKS to be completed in Warsaw!

1Cleanliness of the Stall

Judged on Thursday

Criterion	Points
Cleanliness of the stall and bedding	0–4
Order and safety	0–2
Cleanliness of water buckets and feeder	0–2
Additional amenities for the horse	0–2
Total	10

Amenities should be judged on their functionality and the horse's comfort, rather than the cost of the equipment. The committee documents its assessment with a photograph and a scorecard.

2Best Mane Braiding

Photos submitted on Thursday, judged on Friday

The groom braids the mane of a chosen horse and submits photos, including consent for their publication.

This could be classic mane braiding, button braids, a running braid, or any other aesthetically pleasing style that is safe and comfortable for the horse. The winner of this task is chosen by the audience.

Photos should show the same braiding from a side view and a close-up. The committee will judge the execution based on the braiding itself, not the quality of the photography. Digital manipulation of the braiding's appearance is not permitted.

3Best-Prepared Horse for Competition

Judged on Thursday and Friday

The winner of this task is chosen by the audience.

The groom prepares a selected horse for an actual competition start. The organizer takes a photograph of the horse – or accepts a photo submitted by the participant – and then publishes images of all 10 horses in an online competition gallery.

The audience evaluates the horse's overall presentation, specifically:

cleanliness and condition of the coat,
appearance of the mane and tail,
preparation of the hooves,
overall aesthetic of the preparation for competition.

Voting takes place via the CAVALIADA website, accessible to fans through a QR code displayed on large screens, on social media, and within the Expo zone.

Proposed scoring system: the horse with the highest number of valid votes receives 10 points; subsequent places receive 9, 8, 7 points, etc., while places 10–15 receive 1 point. In the event of a tie in the number of votes, the committee will make the final decision based on the horse's presentation.

Welfare comes first. For all tasks, the safety and welfare of the horses take precedence over aesthetics. Any grooming practices deemed unacceptable shall result in the disqualification of that entry.

Final